Dayo Israel, the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged Nigerian leaders to pay attention to the youth, as the future leaders of the country.
Israel made the call in Abuja, at the youth programme organised by the Federal Government, as part of activities to mark the 25th Democracy Day Anniversary.
The theme of the programme is: ’25 years of Enduring Democracy: Prospects for the Future’.
He described Nigerian youths as resilient, noting that in spite of the difficulties they were experiencing in fulfilling their future aspirations, they were still excelling in their various endeavors.
He said that the future of Nigeria’s democracy lies in the hands of the youth, who must be engaged in governance.
‘The future of our democracy is in our hands (youths), and so the leaders of today must be conscious of the attention they give our generation.
‘It is important to know that the Nigerian youths are ripe and ready for leadership, however we have to ensure, it is not by guns,’ he s
aid.
According to him, Nigerian youths have demonstrated a level of decorum by not using guns to force themselves into leadership, as seen in some other African countries.
He, however, said that leaders should not be complacent about the situation, but should be driven to providing enabling environment for youths participation in all their activities.
Also speaking at the event, Abdulmumuni Abiola, the son of the late MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 elections, said it was an honor for the date to be marked as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
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He said that even at a young age, he knew his father was determined to make a difference in Nigeria, as he regarded the country as his special place.
In his presentation on the Prospects of the Future, a political consultant, Mr Samuel Martins, said that youth must be patriotic and be advocates of value reorientation to man the leadership of Nigeria.
Source: News Agency of Niger
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